Sunflower fields forever

Families were enjoying shoulder-high fields of sunflowers in full bloom Saturday afternoon at the Agricenter in Memphis, including this mother and her children. From left are Aileen Santiago, Joselyn Santiago and Valentina Santiago. Although flower picking isn’t allowed at the fields, the Agricenter encourages photography and enjoyment of the beauty. Photo by John Collins.

The Agricenter planted more than 78,000 donated sunflower seeds this year for the community’s enjoyment. Three acres of sunflowers are blooming now along Walnut Grove Road and Germantown Parkway, with the largest field being accessible either by the parking lot at Walnut Bend or along Smythe Farm Road. The flowers are expected to last about three weeks from their July 14 press release date. Photo by John Collins.

The sunflower is native to the Americas and has been cultivated at least as far back as 3,000 BCE for food, medicine, dye and oil. As young tender plants, the flower buds and blossoms face east in the morning and follow the sun throughout the day. Older plants develop stiffer stems to hold up the heavy seeds, and mature flower heads usually remain facing east. Photo by John Collins. (Information source: mentalfloss.com )